Interchangeable piece or set of jewelry

Abstract

An interchangeable piece of jewelry including a base and a head mount. The base includes an inner wall that defines a receptacle. The head mount includes a setting and an insert, the setting configured to retain a jewel therein and the insert being dimensioned to sit within the receptacle of the base. When the insert rests within the receptacle, an outer wall of the insert at a distal end contacts the inner wall of the receptacle such that the head mount is releasably secured within the receptacle, and the outer wall of the insert that is adjacent a proximal end and within the receptacle is spaced apart from the inner wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An interchangeable piece of jewelry comprising:
 a base comprising an outer surface and an inner wall, the inner wall defining a receptacle having an opening at the outer surface of the base, the receptacle having a bottom, wherein the inner wall tapers inwardly towards the bottom, such that a distance between opposing sides of the receptacle at the opening is greater than a distance between opposing sides of the receptacle at the bottom; and 
 a head mount comprising a setting and an insert, the setting configured to retain a jewel therein and the insert being dimensioned to sit within the receptacle of the base, the insert comprising an outer wall, a proximal end coupled to the setting, and a distal end, wherein 
 when the insert rests within the receptacle, a first portion of the outer wall of the insert contacts the inner wall of the receptacle such that the head mount is releasably secured within the receptacle, and a second portion of the outer wall of the insert that is adjacent the proximal end and within the receptacle is spaced apart from the inner wall. 
 
     
     
       2. The interchangeable piece of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the base is part of a ring. 
     
     
       3. The interchangeable piece of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the insert tapers from the proximal end to the distal end, such that a distance between opposite sides at the proximal end is greater than a distance between opposite sides at the distal end. 
     
     
       4. The interchangeable piece of jewelry of  claim 3 , wherein the outer wall of the insert comprises a rounded cross-sectional shape and the inner wall that defines the receptacle comprises a rounded cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
       5. The interchangeable piece of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the insert further comprises a central shaft, a first side arm, and a second side arm, the central shaft disposed in between the first side arm and the second side arm, the receptacle further comprising a central slot, a first side slot and a second side slot, the central slot defined in between the first side slot and the second side slot, wherein the central shaft, the first arm, and the second arm fit within the central slot, the first side slot and the second side slot, respectively, when the head mount rests within the receptacle. 
     
     
       6. The interchangeable piece of jewelry of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first side slot and the second side slot tapers. 
     
     
       7. The interchangeable piece of jewelry of  claim 6 , wherein only the outer wall, at distal ends of the first side arm and second side arm, makes contact with the inner wall at the first side slot and the second side slot, when the head mount rests within the receptacle. 
     
     
       8. The interchangeable piece of jewelry of  claim 5 , wherein a first gap is defined in between the first side arm and the central shaft, and a second gap is defined in between the second side arm and the central shaft. 
     
     
       9. The interchangeable piece of jewelry of  claim 5 , wherein the central shaft has a greater length than the first side arm and the second side arm. 
     
     
       10. The interchangeable piece of jewelry of  claim 1 , further comprising a plate fixed to the proximal end of the insert, and the setting is secured to an upper surface of the plate, the plate comprising an outer edge extending laterally beyond the outer wall of the insert. 
     
     
       11. The interchangeable piece of jewelry of  claim 10 , wherein a slot is defined through the plate and the insert, an opening into the slot is at the upper surface of the plate, and the setting comprises a pin that fits within the slot through the opening, releasably securing the setting to the upper surface of the plate. 
     
     
       12. The interchangeable piece of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the insert is spaced apart from the bottom of the receptacle when the head mount rests within the receptacle. 
     
     
       13. The interchangeable piece of jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the receptacle comprises a bottom opening. 
     
     
       14. A method for securing a head mount to a base of a piece of jewelry comprising:
 placing an insert of the head mount through an opening at an outer surface of the base and into a receptacle defined by an inner wall of the base, thereby releasably securing the head mount to the base, wherein 
 the inner wall tapers inwardly towards a bottom of the receptacle, such that a distance between opposing sides of the receptacle at the opening is greater than a distance between opposing sides of the receptacle at the bottom, 
 the head mount comprises a setting and the insert, the setting is configured to retain a jewel therein, and the insert comprises an outer wall, a proximal end coupled to the setting, and a distal end, 
 a first portion of the outer wall of the insert contacts the inner wall of the receptacle, and 
 a second portion of the outer wall of the insert that is adjacent the proximal end and within the receptacle is spaced apart from the inner wall. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the outer wall of the insert tapers from the proximal end to the distal end, such that a distance between opposite sides at the proximal end is greater than a distance between opposite sides at the distal end. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the insert further comprises a central shaft, a first side arm, and a second side arm, the central shaft disposed in between the first side arm and the second side arm, the receptacle further comprises a central slot, a first side slot, and a second side slot, the central slot defined in between the first side slot and the second side slot. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of placing the insert of the head mount through the opening and within the receptacle comprises: placing the central shaft, the first side arm, and the second side arm within the central slot, the first side slot, and the second side slot, respectively. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first side slot and the second side slot tapers, and only the outer wall, at distal ends of the first side arm and the second side arm, makes contact with the inner wall at the first side slot and the second side slot. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the head mount further comprises a plate fixed to a proximal end of the insert, and the setting is fixed to an upper surface of the plate, the plate comprising an outer edge extending laterally beyond the outer wall of the insert, wherein the plate is spaced apart from the outer surface of the base, and the distal end of the insert is spaced apart from the bottom of the receptacle. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 adjusting the dimensions of at least one of the receptacle and the insert such that the plate rests against the outer surface of the base, and the distal end of the insert is disposed at the bottom of the receptacle; and 
 adjoining the insert to the base by a melting process, an adhesive bonding process, or a combination thereof.